Pages

12.26.2008

The Divine Liturgy in the Maronite tradition often mentions the title “Mary, Mother of the Light.” The opening prayer of the liturgy used to mention it every day. This title is rich in theological and spiritual significance and is indeed one of the treasures of the Maronite Church.The image of light conveys a sense of joy, festivity, and life. Religion uses the image of light to express the notion of purity and the presence of God. Since light is the element which is proper to the divine Being, from ancient times the pagans adored the sun. At the end of December, the pagans celebrated a feast dedicated to the “Unconquerable Sun.” In fact, on December 21st the nights, which had been becoming longer and longer, begin to shorten. The ancients celebrated this conquest of the light over the darkness. When Constantine granted freedom for Christians to worship publicly, it was appropriate to replace the celebration of the Unconquerable Sun, with the Feast of the New Sun of the world, to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Light of the world (John 3:19).The image of light is found throughout salvation history. The Aramaic Fathers of the Antiochene tradition teach us that creation is a preparation for the incarnation of the Son of God. All was created by the Father, through the Son.Scripture tells us that the first thing that was created is the sun: it is the heavenly body which gives forth light, warmth and life itself. The sun is the image of the Son of God because Christ himself is that light which comes from heaven. As a ray of light coming through a cloud, he appeared from the Virgin Mary.…Just at the shepherds and Magi saw and followed the light, we who have seen the Light must follow. Jesus told us, “Walk while you have the light” (John 2:19; 5:34; 12:35-36). This feast of the Birth of Our Lord, the Light of the world, should be an incentive for us to be the light of the world (Mt 5:14)….(Taken from the Prayer of the Faithful Synaxarion for Christmas.)

Year of Consecrated Life

Search This Blog

Loading...

Illumine Your Soul

May we be worthy to praise, glorify, and honor the One who renewed the world, and traced a new path of life for his creatures; Christ, the One who is light for all and who covered the universe with a new light by his glorious resurrection; the wondrous One who performed a new wonder on this day, by entering the Upper Room with his apostles, and immersing their hearts in a new happiness. To Christ, the good One, are due glory and honor, on this day and all the days of our lives, now and for ever. Amen

Rosary CD -- "Radiate His Light"

Our "Radiate His Light" CD includes the Luminious Mysteries in English, in Arabic, and the basic Catholic prayers in Aramaic. The meditations are taken from the Maronite liturgical prayers. If you would like a copy of this free CD visit our website and email your request. Please remember to include your full mailing address.

Brighten Your Day

""Love is the light -- and in the end, the only light-- that can always illuminate a world grown dim and give us the courage needed to keep living and working. Love is possible, and we are able to practice it because we are created in the image of God. To experience love and in this way to cause the light of God to enter into the world..."